El Niño effect on CV livestock slight

CEBU, Philippines - The Livestock Division of the Department of Agriculture Central Visayas (DA-7) assured the public that supply of pork and other meat products in the region is stable despite the onslaught of the El Niño phenomenon.

Joel Elumba, chief of the DA-7’s Livestock Division told The FREEMAN yesterday that the drought being experienced in the region is milder than that experienced in Luzon and in conditions like this, farm animals are the last to be affected.

“Sa Central Visayas wala kaayo detrimental effects ang El Niño. Ang atong farm animals maapektohan rana sila kung grabe na gyud ang El Niño pero diri sa atoa, mild ra man. So far, wala pa mi nadawat na reports na grabe naapektuhan ang atong livestock,” Elumba said. He said that it is the crop industry that is more vulnerable to the effects of El Niño.

According to him, animals still have water to drink and besides, animal raisers are dependent on commercial feeds that are still available in the market.

Elumba assured that there is an active monitoring on the impacts of El Niño in various agricultural sectors for the government to identify and implement right away appropriate mitigating measures.

The agriculture regional field office here continues its information campaign to farmers on how they could help minimize the effects of El Niño through, for example, conservation of water.

After El Niño, Elumba said that they already have an action plan to address the foreseen increase in the incidence of various animal diseases.

“Nag-expect mi na motaas ang incidence sa diseases so after El Niño we have to make sure na andam na ang mga vaccines for deworming, vitamin supplementation ug uban pa,” Elumba said.

He said that Central Visayas remains self sufficient in terms of supply of pork and other meat products. The supply is just enough to answer the demand, he added.

 “If naa man gani ta contribution sa supply sa Luzon, that’s only a few heads of live animals like goats and cows,” he said.

Elumba advised the animal raisers to ensure that there is always water supply available for their livestock and during the hottest times of the day, make sure that animals are in a shaded place. — Jessica Ann R. Pareja/WAB (THE FREEMAN)